Car coupler



March 25, 1952 HAMMOND 2,590,404

CAR COUPLER Filed Aug.. 14, 1950 jzvenivrs Newt fan fiammomi 23 y WOW/L09% Patented Mar. 25, 1952 CAR COUPLER Newton Hammond, Murphysboro,111., assignor of twenty-four and one-half per cent to Fred Huff, DuQuoin, and twenty-four and onehalf per cent to Theron G. Gerow, Skokie,111.

Application August 14, 1950, Serial No. 179,196

1 Claim.

My invention relates, generally, to car couplers, and it has particularrelation to automatic couplers for mine cars and the like. The presentapplication constitutes a continuation-impart of my prior application,Serial No. 744,867, filed April 30, 1947, now abandoned and entitled CarCoupler and embodies certain improved features thereover.

Among the objects of my invention are: to provide for automaticallycoupling together two mine cars when they are moved into end-to-endengagement; to provide a link for coupling the cars together betweenmale and female coupling housings; to insure that the coupling link isheld by the male coupling housing in position to enter the femalecoupling housing to accomplish the car coupling; to so design thesprings in the coupling housings that the coupling operation always iseffected between the coupling link and the female coupling housing; andto provide a coupling link in an organization arranged to accomplish theforegoing objects which will permit the cars to be individually dumpedwithout requiring that. they be uncoupled.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious and, in part,appear hereinafter.

Accordingly, my invention is disclosed in the embodiments thereof, asshown in the accompanying drawing, and it comprises the features ofconstruction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts whichwill be exemplified in the constructions hereinafter set forth and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the appendedclaim.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of myinvention, reference can be had to the following detailed description,taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view, in side elevation, of the adjacent ends of two minecars "that are coupled together by coupling means constructed inaccordance with my invention; 1

Figure 2 is a view, partly in top plan and partly in section showing thedetails of construction of the male and female couplin housings and themechanism therein;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure2;

Figure 4 is a View, partly in topplan and partly in section, showing amodified arrangement for mounting the compression springs; and

Figure 5 is a top plan View of a swivel coupling link which may beemployed in lieu of the rigid coupling link illustrated in Figures 2 and3.

Referring now, particularly, to Figure 1 of the drawing, it will beobserved that the reference characters It and II designate mine carsthat are provided with male and female coupling mechanisms that areindicated, generally, at I2 and I3 respectively thereon. The details ofconstruction of the coupling mechanisms I2 and I3 are shown more clearlyin Figures 2 and 3.

The coupling mechanisms [2 and I3 comprise a male coupling housing I4and a similar female coupling housing I5, respectively, which arepreferably formed of cast steel or pig iron. The forward opposed ends ofthe two housings I4 and i5 are rounded, as shown, in order to facilitatethe movement of the cars It and I I around shar bends in the track.

Each of the housings l4 and I5 is provided with a centrally locatedinternal longitudinal channel I6 and IT. The channels I5 and I! haveback walls I8 and I9 and front walls 20 and 2|, respectively, and theymay be cast integrally with the housings I4 and I5. Mounted in thechannels I6 and I! are slides 22 and 23 which are generally rectangularin cross section and are formed of material similar to that used for making the housings I4 and I5. The slides 22 and 23 are of smallerdimensions than channels I6 and H, in order to permit their free slidingmovement in the channels I6 and I1.

The slides 22 and 23 are arranged to be biased forwardly in theirrespective channels I6 and I! by coil compression springs 24 and 25. Asshown, these springs are compressed between forward sides of the backwalls I8 and I9, and the rear ends of the slides 22 and 23. Asillustrated, two springs are employed for each of the slides 22 and 23,the springs being of substantially equal strength so that there isapproximately equivalent rectilinear sliding movement of the slides 22and 23 during the coupling'operation.

For efficient operation and durability, springs capable of producingapproximately pounds of thrust for each inch of axial compression aresatisfactory.

The springs 24 and 25 are guided in the housings I4 and I5 by suitablebolts 26 and 2'! which extend through the housing back walls I8 and I9and through the front ends of the slides-22 and 23. As will appearhereinafter, other means than the bolts 26 and 2'! can be employed forcentering the springs 24 and 25. r

With a view to interconnecting the couplin mechanisms I2 and I3, a caststeel coupling link, indicated generally at 3 I, may be employed. The

5 right hand end 32 of link 3I is somewhat more tapered than is the lefthand end 33. The reason for this is to facilitate holding the link 3! incoupling position in the male coupling mechanism I2 and to facilitateits entrance into the female coupling mechanism I3. The front wall ofthe male coupling housing i4 is provided with an enlarged aperture 34for loosely receiving the end 32 of the link 3!. In like manner, thefront wall 2I of the female coupling housing I5 is provided with aninwardly converging aperture for receiving the other end 33 of thecoupling link 3!. The link 3! has eyes 33 and 3! for loosely receivingremovable coupling pins 38 and 39, respectively. When the coupling pins33 and 39 are in operative position with respect to the coupling link3!, it will be observed that they lie adjacent the rear surfaces of thefront walls 29 and 2! of the coupling housings I4 and I5. The couplingpins 38 and 33 may be provided with bails 49 and 4! to which chains maybe attached, the other ends of the chains being attached to the bodiesof the cars I0 and H, for example to avoid loss of the pins 38 and 39.

As shown in Figure 3, the upper surface of theright hand end 32 of thecoupling link 3| is bevelled, as indicated at 42, to facilitate holdingthe coupling link 3! in coupling position. The aperture 34 is providedwith a lower planar surface 44 which registers in a substantiallyhorizontal line with a detent recess '45 formed in a rearwardly anddownwardly sloping forward face 48"of the slide 22 while the remainderof aperture 34' converges uniformly inward, like aperhim 35; to assistthe entry of the link thereinto. It will be appreciated that theinclination of the surface 48 is such that the lower edge thereof isslightly back of the upper forward edge thereof so'that the end 32 ofthe link is wedged downwardly into engagement with recess 46 uponentering the male mechanism !2. The springs 24' also cooperate toresiliently hold the slide 22 against the coupling link 3! so that theright hand end thereof is firmly located in the recess 46 and the underside thereof bears against-{the floor '44 of the aperture 34. By the useof this detent' arrangement, the coupling link 3! is held in ahorizontal coupling position, as shown in Figure 3, to greatlyfacilitate automatic coupling with the female coupling mechanism I3 whenthe car I9, carrying the coupling mechanism I2, is moved toward the carfor vice versa. The upper and lower sides and '4'! -of the aperture 35are also beveled in- Wardly to direct the end 33 of the link 3!therethrough and into a recess 49' in the forward side of the slide 23.

'It' will benoted'that by having apertures 34 and 35 converging inwardlyso as to present an enlarged outer'openirig, the link 3! is free to moveup and down or to the side, much as would a swivel or universal joint.This feature enables automatic coupling of the cars while theyrest atdifferent respective levels or when one car is on a curved and the otheron a straight-away section of track. Additionally, it will be observedthat by providing link 3! with the enlarged eyes 38 and 31, the couplerlooses the detrimental rigidity prevalent to the heretofore known carcouplers. Using my construction the link 3! is permitted to'fioat freelyrelative to pins 38 and 39 to provide smooth riding of the cars alongthe track, and further may be rotated slightly, as a universal jointmight, when interconnecting cars which are not in precise tandem,in-line registering'relation with one another. This universalpositioning and free floating feature of my coupling link 3! makes for amore level car travel and for a more speedy and efficient car couplingwhereby automatic coupling can be accomplished, with a minimummanipulation and positioning of the mine cars, to meet almost any trackcondition; an item which become highly important in the cramped quartersof an underground mine, or the like. Further by use of the spring loadedslides 22 and 23 much of the jerkiness of the riding characteristics ofthe coupled mine cars is eliminated making for a much smoother ridingtrain and reducing the wear and tear on the couplers.

The coupling housings l4 and I5 are also provided with readily removablecovers 50 and 5!. The cover 50 is provided with an aperture 52 throughwhich the coupling pin 38 is inserted. The cover 5! is provided likewisewith an apertured boss 53 which serves to hold the pin 39 in an erectposition where it is held by the slide 23 when the female couplingmechanism I3 is uncoupled. It will be understood that, when the couplinglink 3! enters the female coupling mechanism I3, the slide 23 is movedalong the channel I! and out from under the coupling pin 39. Thecoupling pin 39 then falls by gravity and enters the eye 31 of thecoupling link 3 I. In this manner, the automatic coupling of the carsI!) and II takes. place.

In order to facilitate the removal of particles of coal, dirt, and likematerial from the channels I6 and I1, slots 54 and 55 are provided inthe bottom thereof. Thus, any particles of coal or like material whichmay enter the coupling housings l4 and I5 ordinarily will fall throughthe slots 54 and 55.

The provision of the readily removable covers 50 and 5! also facilitatesthe ready replacing of broken springs 24 and 25 or other mal-functioningequipment therein.

As shown in Figure 4, instead of employing the bolts 23 and 21 forcenteringthe springs 24 and 25, pins 59 may be provided foraccomplishing the same purpose. As here shown, a pin 59 is provided ateach end of each spring 25. One pin may be secured to the back wall I9and the other pin 59 can be secured to the rear side of the front end ofthe slide 23. A similar construction can be used for the male couplingmechanism I2, as will be understood readily.

Where it is desired to invidually dump the cars I9 and II withoutuncouplingthem, a'swivel link, shown generally at 6! in Figure 5, may beemployed. As there shown, the swivel link 6! comprises eyes 62 and 63which correspond to the end s'ections'32 and 33 of the link 3! However,they are separate, rather than being integrally formed and areinterconnected. byv a swivel pin 64 which permits relative rotation totake place between the eyes 62 and 63. It will be understood that theswivel link 6! can be employed in lieu of the link 3 I.

Since certain further changes can be made in the foregoing constructionsand different embodiments of the invention can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matters shownin the accompanying drawings anddescribed hereintofore shall beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limited sense.

. I claim as my invention:

. For use in coupling a pair of railroadmine cars, a car coupler of. theclass described, comprising in combination, a male and a female couplingmechanism mounted in opposed separated relation to adjacent ends of thepair of mine cars, each coupler mechanism comprising a housing, a slidemember journaled for sliding rectilinear movement within said housing,front and rear walls enclosing opposite ends of said housing andlimiting movement of said slide therein, compressive spring meansmounted between said slide and rear wall for biasing the same towardsaid front wall, and a removable connector pin passing verticallythrough said housing between said slide and front wall thereof; acoupling link reaching between said two mechanisms and engageable, atits opposite ends, with the slide members therein via suitable aperturesformed in the front walls of said two mechanisms, the front wallaperture in said female mechanism converging uniformly inward to guidethe entry thereinto of one end of said link and the front wall aperturein said male mechanism having a substantially horizontal planar surfacedefining its lower side with the remainder of its periphery converginguniformly inward to guide the entry thereinto of said links other end;said link receiving the connector pin of each of said mechanismstherethrough for locking the latter together; and a downwardly andrearwardly sloping front face formed on said male mechanisms slidemember and having a detent recess formed therein in substantialhorizontal alignment with the planar face of said male mechanisms frontwall aperture whereby such serves to guide said links other enddownwardly, upon entering said male mechanism, to engage said detentrecess which cooperates with said planar face to maintain said link in asubstantially horizontal coupling position for ready entry into saidfemale mechanisms front wall aperture.

NEWTON HAMMOND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 280,016 Davis June 20, 1883293,713 Bryan Feb. 19, 1884 298,918 Nebinger May 20, 1884 340,235Merrill Apr. 20, 1886 396,509 Powel Jan. 22, 1889 467,326 Wells Jan. 191892 492,376 Baum et a1. Feb. 21, 1893 583,767 Nelson June 1, 1897610,666 Trevessick Sept. 13, 1898 1,680,115 Robinson Aug. 7, 1928

